Game or toy



- March 18, 1947.

B. E; NORVELL 2,417,565

GAME 0R TOY Filed Jan. 5, 1945 Patented Mar. 18, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT orncs 2,417,565 GAME R TOY Benjamin E. Howell, Oak creek, Ariz. Application January 6, 1945, Serial No. 571,605

Claims. 1

The general object of my invention is to provide a. new type of game. A novel feature of my invention is that it provides a new device for causing separatable members to be propelled to places provided. One feature of the invention provides a combination of a spiral member and rotatable member, together with a base and other members associated therewith. I

More particularly, by combining a primary base, a helically grooved post with a secondary base on each end, a stop on the inner side of each secondary base, a cross-bar with inner extension or peg in center hole, with receptacles and marbles and situated on said helically grooved post, one detailed construction of my invention will be formed and suitable for operation. For convenience in packaging the assembly, the endbases may be threaded or otherwise prepared, or equipped for attaching to the ends of the correspondingly prepared helically grooved post. By releasing the cross-bar for rotating and descending from near the top of the helically grooved post, said cross-bar containing two marbles, the cross-bar will rotate and descend on the helically grooved post until it strikes a stop on the lower secondary base, when said cross-bar will suddenly stop and the marbles will be propelled onto the primary base for the purpose of attempting a score; then by turning theassembly upside down on the primary base and replacing the marbles in the positioned receptacles in the cross-bar, a similar repeat action will take place. The primary base may be simple or elaborate in construction and design. r

In describing my invention, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device.

Figure 2 is a side view of the device separated from the primary base.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device equipped with recoil springs and attachments and separated from the primary base.

As shown in Figure 1, there is a rimmed base I, having holes 2 formed for scoring purposes. A lower base 311 is provided at one end of a helically grooved post 8, which is set on the base I. The opposite end of the post 8 is provided with another base 31). Carried by the post 8 is a cross- -bar 5 which has a tongue I, which engages the groove in the post 8. At the outer end of the bases 3a and 3b are provided with stops la and helically grooved post 8 may be dispensedwith,

and either end of the post 8 may be set on or attached to the base I so that the cross-bar 5 carried by the post 8 will descend and rotate on the post 8 and when said cross-bar 5 approaches cross-bar 5 are pockets 9a and 9b which hold 7 the base I, it will strike a stop on base I and the marbles carried in pockets of said cross-bar 5 will be dispensed onto the base I.

In Figure 2, the assembly shown in Figure 1 has been removed from the base I. In the cross-bar instead of marbles, there is a die I2 in one of the side pockets I3a. There is another side pocket I30 and another side pocket for carrying each die I2 for reverse action of the crossbar when the assembly is inverted. These side pockets not shown are present but not appearing. These pockets not shown do not appear because they are situated on the oil-side of the cross-bar as indicated. It can be seen that a similar action as described in Figure 1 will take place in Figure 2 except that the objects carried in pockets of the cross-bar will be propelled onto any preferred surface, rather than on a base as shown in Figure 1.

The general object of the modification utilizing the recoil spring is to cause increased action of a rotatable member rotating on a center guide because of the force of a spiral-acting member and attachments and to cause objects to be propelled from the rotatable member onto a base or suitable place.

Figure 3 shows an upper base Ila and a lower base Mb. associated with a helically grooved post and said bases Ma and Nb are adjacent to the ends of said post. ,On'said post there. is situated a cross-bar adapted for rotatingand travelling on said post, said cross-bar having pockets Ill; and Ilb, in each of said pockets Ila and Ilb a marble is carried. A first recoil spring I5b' surrounds a portion of said post between the crossbar and one of the bases 0., a second recoil spring I5a surrounds a portion of the post between the cross-bar and the other base I lb. There is a control rod and extension I9, and means for successively holding said cross-bar against the first recoil spring I 5?) in a deflect condition of the spring and for releasing the cross-bar for travel toward the second recoil spring I5a in such a la, and the cross-bar deflects said second recoil spring l5a, causing said cross-bar to reverse its rotating motion and causing said marbles carried in said pockets [la and "b of cross-bar to be dispensed from cross-bar. There are vertical pins IM and lSb which engage openings 2Ia or 21b when the cross-bar travels and rotates at the beginning of the position engaging one recoil spring to the travelling and the rotating of the cross-bar until it has sufiiciently started towards the other recoil spring. One end of the control rod I9 is slidably attached to the upper base Ma, and said control rod l9 has an extension which fits into either of the openings [8a or l8b of the cross-bar for'the holding and releasing of the cross-bar. A spring 20 holds rod IS in an upward position when not in use.

separated from said cross-bar'when the cross-bar reverses its action on the helically grooved post because of the action of the lower recoil spring I So and vertical pin l6a. The vertical pins l6a and lSb are attachedto washer-like members and the washer-like members surround the helically grooved post being a part of the recoil springs Ho and I51). The lower end of the recoil spring I5a is attached to the lowerbase Mb. The upper end of the recoil spring 15b is attached to the upper base Ila.

It can readily be seen that when the lower base i 4b of Figure 3 is provided with a stop and the assembly is placed on the base of Figure 1, that the action will be the same as described in Figure 1 together with .added action because of control and releasing means relative to the upper recoil springs i5b and the deflecting thereof and defiecting means of the lower recoil spring I5a by the cross-bar. Because of the giving and force action of the lower recoil spring l5a when it is deflected by said cross-bar, the marbles carried in the pockets Ila and Ilb of the said cross-bar will be propelled therefrom when said cross-bar strikes the said stop and said cross-bar will then reverse its rotation and ascend the helically grooved post. I

A novel feature of the assembly Figure 3 other than the separation of movable objects from the rotatable member can be utilized. As for instance, the top recoil spring and attachments and means may cause the rotatable member to rapidly rotate and descend the helically grooved post until it contacts the lower recoil spring, when it will gradually slacken in speed until it finally stops, having wound the lower recoil spring, the rotatable member will reverse its rotating action, as the recoil spring unwinds, and travel upward. Also, by turning the assembly upside down and the recoil spring is wound by the rotating member and means associated therewith and said rotating member is released, it will rapidly rotate and ascend the helically grooved post and eventually reverse its action and descend.

The vertical pins Mia and l6b fit into the openings in the wheel or cross-bar. Either of these pins may remain in the assisting position while the wheel or cross-bar is beingaided in movement by mechanical assistance, either by the winding or unwinding of the recoil springs. On the other hand, the vertical pins I61: and Nb may be entirely eliminated and the force action of the recoil springs will act as suillcient assistance for the movement of the wheel or cross-bar. This mechanical assistance will be due to the force The marbles carried in the pockets 11a and llb of the cross-bar are created by the pressing of either recoil spring as the wheel or cross-bar rotates and compresses said reccil spring while travelling and rotating on the helically grooved post.

The rotatable member may be a cross-bar or wheel in one piece with an extension in the center hole similar to a Dog or the extension in the center hole may be eliminated and the hole may be modified as in the case of a special shaped oblong hole. I

One example for causing removable objects to be propelled from a rotatable member with mechanical assistance is, a guide or post fastened onto a base and surrounded by a spiral, clock-like spring member and cross-bar or wheel and said spiral, clock-like spring member could be underneath the cross-bar or wheel on a base, one end of which could be connected to the underside of the cross-bar or wheel and the other end connected to the base so that when the cross-bar or wheel would be turned by hand, the spiral, clock-like spring member would be gathered in towards the center guide or post and wound. Then when the cross-bar or wheel would be released, a rapid rotating movement would occur and the spiral member would expand and contact a stop, one end of which would move upward and contact an indenture in said cross-bar or wheel and thereby cause said cross-bar or wheel to abruptly stop and propel the objects contained on said cross-bar or wheel onto the base. In the case of a cross-bar, the stop could move upward alongside said cross-bar instead of into an indenture as in the case of a wheel.

In playing the game by propelling colored cubes, with an equal valued stack of discs, red, yellow, blue, green, white, and black. On a scoring play, after the cross-bar 5 is stopped by the stop 4a and themarbles are propelled onto the base; the player' would place a disc on the base to correspond with the play. Therefore, the layer having the highest valued number of discs on the base at the end of the game would be the winner.

In placing the game by propelling colored cubes, a score would be determined by, for instance, two cubes stopping with upper sides red giving a score 25, two yellow 20, two blue 15, two green 10 two White 5, two black 100, unmatched colors no by the highest value.

score.

In using the colored cubes or dice with cards, the score would be determined by the scoring value of the highest valued cubes propelled by the cross-bar, such as red 25 plus the scoring value of the card closest to which it stops which might be 4, making a score of 29.

The base of the game could be reversible so that marbles could be used on one side and dice or cubes with or without cards used on the other side, or the base could be used to suit the players.

In playing the game without cards, the score would be determined as with the colored cubes, In the case of dice, the highest numbered spots or various other ways of playing which the players might prefer could be determined by the players.

Anydesired or preferable rules may be established for playing the game in any of its possible forms.

As an educational toy for children whereby the child would learn various characters while being amused, the cubes or other objects would merely be propelled from the cross-bar onto the base orplastics, paper, compositions, and other materials might be considered.

I do not limitmyselr to any specific construction but I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangements of the various 1 parts and the adding to or removal or substitution of such parts as I may see fit, provided that such changes or additions or removals or substitutions come within the principle of any or all of the novel features of my invention.

I claim: i I

1. A game comprising a primary base, a spirally formed member, a base on each end 01' said spiral- 1y formed member, a rotatable member on said spirally formed member and said rotatable member having a hole shaped and provided for adapting said rotatable member for rotating andtravelling on said spirally formed member and said rotatable member being provided for carrying movable objects, means for causing said movable objects carried by said rotatable member to be propelled from said rotatable member onto said primary base at a definite point in the travel of said rotatable member.

2. A game device comprising a primary base, having a first secondary base set thereon, said first secondary base having a stop thereon, said first secondary base supporting a helically grooved post, a second secondary base having a stop thereon and adjacent to the opposite end of said post, and adapted for inverting onto said primary base and replacing said first secondary base, said post having mounted thereon a cross-bar with means slidably engaging said groove in post so that the cross-bar rotates as it descends said post, said cross-bar having pockets for holding movable objects, these said movable objects carried in pockets of cross-bar being adapted to be dispensed upon said primary base upon the sudden stopping of said cross-bar by a stop provided on a secondary base. l

3. A game device comprisinga helically grooved post, a base on each end of said post, each base being adapted for lower and upper position. a 45 1,441,158

rotatable member carried on said post and being adapted for rotating and travelling onsaid post,

movable objects carried by said rotatable mem-" ber in such receptacles that when the; rotatable,

member rotates and descends the said post from a point above the then lower base and" contactssaid base, the movable objects carriedby said rotatable member will be separated therefrom because'of means for causing saidmovable objects to be separated from said. rotatable member.

4. A game device comprising a base, said base supporting a helically grooved post, said post having mounted thereon a cross-bar with means slidably engaging said groove of said post so that said cross-bar rotates: as it descends said post, said cross-bar having pockets for holding movable objects, said objects carried in pockets of said cross-bar being adapted to be displaced from said cross-bar onto said base upon the sudden stopping of said cross-bar by a stop provided on said base.

5. A game device comprising a base, a spiral member, said spiral member being adapted for association with said base and adjacent thereof, a rotatable member with receptacles and adapted for carrying movable objects, and there being means for releasing said rotatable member for rotating, said rotatable member being adapted for rotation and association with said spiral member and means for guiding and stopping said rotatable member so that when said rotatable member reaches said guidance and stopping means, the movable objects carried in thereceptacles of said rotatable member will be propelled onto said base.

BENJAMIN E. NORVELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are or record in the file of this patent? V UNITED STATES PATE NTS Number Name Date 1,756,608 Reider Aug.'29. 1930 588,264 Brennan Aug. 17, 1897 928,417 Essig Oct. 26, 1909 Le Meur Jan. 2, 1923 

